I've been wondering if there is any official doctrine held by Jehovahs Witnesses that would restrict them from talking about their faith in their own words?

I have noticed in my interactions with them (through everything from talking to door to door missionaries to hanging out with the families of some of my friends to reading their postings on this site) that instead it is very typical for them to use the exact phrases and constructs found in officially sanctioned publications, often preferring to quote these sources (Watchtower, etc.) wholesale rather than writing or otherwise articulating their views in their own words.

As a Reformed Protestant, I believe there is great value in using words and constructs whose meanings have become well defined and have been tested through time. In particular, I will even direct people to re-frame their own questions in the words Scripture uses for given topics rather than their own because I think this will help bring clarity to the issues they face. At the same time I see great value in meeting people where they are at -- in speaking the same language -- and articulating eternal truths in ways that people relate to and that specifically match the important issues. However much some Theologian may have said something better than I and I might quote them, still I do share the Gospel and articulate my faith to people using my own words.

This seems fundamentally different from the interactions I see from JWs. When you ask them a question, they will seem reticent to stray from a specific track and try to find the closest matching stock answer from their repertoire. Or so it seems. My question is, is that an official stance?

Is there a specific teaching or doctrine that binds them to operate this way? Or perhaps a more general doctrine that leads people to that conclusion even if it isn't a requirement?

I'll try to put together an answer to this. There's certainly no official doctrine against putting things in your own words: in fact, it's probably encouraged. But there is a strong teaching against "independent thinking". Also, their language is non-standard.
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TRiGMay 29 '12 at 13:02

8 As faith grows in your heart, you will find it hard to keep what you
have learned to yourself. (Jeremiah 20:9) You will be strongly
motivated to speak to others about God and his purposes.—2 Corinthians
4:13.

9 You might begin to share Bible truth with others by tactfully
speaking about it to your relatives, friends, neighbors, and
workmates. In time, you will want to share in the organized preaching
work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. At that point, feel free to talk things
over with the Witness who is teaching you the Bible. If it appears
that you qualify for the public ministry, arrangements will be made
for you and your teacher to meet with two of the congregation elders.

10 This will enable you to get better acquainted with some Christian
elders, who shepherd the flock of God. (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2, 3) If
these elders see that you understand and believe basic Bible
teachings, are living in harmony with God’s principles, and truly want
to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, they will let you know that you
qualify to share in the public ministry as an unbaptized publisher of
the good news.

11 On the other hand, you may need to make some changes in your
life-style and habits in order to qualify for the public ministry.
This may include stopping some practices that have been kept secret
from others. Hence, before you ask about becoming an unbaptized
publisher, you need to be free of serious sins, such as sexual
immorality, drunkenness, and drug abuse.—1 Corinthians 6:9, 10;
Galatians 5:19-21.

I suspect that you've encountered Jehovah's Witnesses that were uncomfortable speaking in their own words. However, I do not have access to the materials that the elders use to train people in public ministry.

Thanks for answering. This material makes it sound like the answer might be "no". However your surmising that the people I have talked to were just uncomfortable is probably unwarranted since some of them are long term JW missionaries in cross-cultural settings. That also doesn't explain the general trend on this site where all kind of people who don't know their own beliefs well are comfortable spouting off their own opinions, whereas JW's almost universally prefer to wholesale quote an official article. What is the source of this cultural difference between faiths?
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Caleb♦May 29 '12 at 12:50

1

@Caleb: I can only guess at the source of the cultural difference. A Jehovah's Witness is probably so immersed in the culture that he or she would be hard pressed to explain any differences. My guess is the level of commitment required to be baptized as a Jehovah's Witness, compared to the relative casualness of other Protestant denominations.
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Gilbert Le BlancMay 29 '12 at 13:21

We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.

We who are members of the worldwide unified Christian congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses both can and do express ourselves / our Bible based beliefs in our own words, however, we would much rather and prefer to express ourselves / our Bible based beliefs in the way in which our Leader, King and Exemplar (Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of Jehovah God) expressed himself / his Bible based beliefs... and I quote King Christ:

"Jesus, in turn, answered them and said: “What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him that sent me. 17 If anyone desires to do His will, he will know concerning the teaching whether it is from God or I speak of my own originality. 18 He that speaks of his own originalityis seeking his own glory; but he that seeks the glory of him that sent him, this one is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him. "
~ John 7:16-17

"because I have not spoken out of my own impulse, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a commandment as to what to tell and what to speak. 50 Also, I know that his commandment means everlasting life. Therefore the things I speak, just as the Father has told me [them], so I speak [them].”"
~ John 12:49, 50

Again, Christ is our PERFECT example whom we strive to the very best of our imperfect ability to imitate (1 Peter 2:21). Was Jesus Christ restricted from expressing things in his own words? We pattern our way of life and the way we teach on him.

~ NOTE: I am a dedicated and baptized member of the worldwide unified Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Yay @Myro0708! For a long time, we've been wanting a JW who can answer from a JW perspective in his or her own words. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! If you could get in the habit of clarifying that it is a JW perspective, that would be helpful. (And to clarify, this answer does that skillfully and gracefully) But thank you!!!
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Affable GeekSep 30 '13 at 17:17

Thank you "Affable Geek", however, being that I am of African American mixture as well as Sicilian Italian and Black Foot Native American, combined with my being one of The Master's (Jesus Christ) sheep... I 'm a happy member of the Lord's "black sheep". Baaaa-baaaa-baaaa LOL! ;-)
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Myro0708Oct 3 '13 at 18:48